Process of and apparatus for making cork articles



March '23 1926.

M. MARSA ET AL PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MRKING CORK ARTICLES 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19 ATT March 23 1926. 1,577,922

. ,M. MARSA ET AL I PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORK ARTICLES NVENTORS ATTORNEY March 23 {1926.

M. MARSA ET AL PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORK ARTICLES 1 924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 19 ATTORNEY M. MARSA ET AL PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORK ARTICLES March 23 1926. 1,577,922

Fi y 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lm avroks j A T TOHNE V March 23 1926. 1,577,922

M. MARSA ET AL 4 PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORK ARTICLES Fi e y 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

March 23 1926.

M. MARSA ET AL PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CORK ARTICLES Filed July lfi, 192g 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 11% L W: lwgurolfs I I J ATTORNEY of and apparatus for manufacturing ble and practically unaffected by any ment and construction of P intedfMaffZS, 1 926.

u lrEo STATES PAT/TENT err-ice.

MELCHOR MA SAAN wrmiuuu JACKSON,

IEESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

rnocnss or AND APPARATUS To ew rnocnss com: COMPANY,

. NEW max, A conronA'noN or NEW YORK.

OF BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOBS, BY ING., OF BROOKLYN,

FOR, MAKING coax narrows.

Application filed Ju1y 19, i924. Serial No. 727,003. g

To all whom z'tmza l concern:

Be it known that we, MnLcHoaMA'Rs'A and ,VVILLIAM JACKSON, citizens of Spain "and the United States,',respectively, and residents of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Process of and Apparatus for Making Cork Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a process articles of comminuted or granulated cork; It pertains more; particularly to'Ta process of and apparatus for forming rods especially adapted for use in producing what is known in the trade as composition cork articles, such as, for instance, cork disks or other sealing devices used in the bottling or analogous arts, although such rods may be used for various other purposes. r I

In forming cork rods of the type men tioned, the granulatedcork is mixed witha suitable bindingagent, which is adapted tocoagulate and unite the particles of cork when subjected to a proper degree of heat and pressure, and when cool becomesiinsoludegree of heat to which the finished article may be subjected without being destroyed or con-' sumed. The comminuted' cork prepared'a's stated is usually packed into a confining tube or mold, the filled or packed tube being heated in an oven to the desired degree, the

' rod so obtained being then removed from the mold and severed into sections of the de.- sired length of thickness to form bottle cap sealing disks, gaskets, packing rings, etc.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved process of and apparatus for uniting the particles of cork by the coagulation of the binding agent andfor giving the united mate'rialthe desired shape, such process being continuous, thereby increasing the production .and reducing the. number of operations necessary in the reduction of the articles. a I j With these and other objects in View, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrange'- parts hereinafter described,- pointed out in the appende claims and illustrated in theaccomp-anying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and propor- 'tion of theseveral parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the inventionfi Generally speaking the improved process and apparatus, is of the extrusion type, the comminuted cork, having the binder incorporated therein, through a confining tube or mold, wherein it is Subjectedto heat suflicient to effect coagulation of the binder, the cork particles being added mold andbei'ng advanced by an intermittently acting or reciprocatory plunger, whereby the particles are compressed, to be ,being' forced into andin-succeeding increments to the body passing into and through, the tube or heatedza'fter compression. In carrying the 1 process into practice, the-tube or mold'is made of two sets of moving semi-tubular the members of one set complementsections, ing those of the other set to form tube sec= tions into which the granular materlal ,is fed, the arrangement being, preferably, such thatthe' semi-tubular sections of each set form an endless chain, the members of one set being held in abutting tube-forming com; plementary positions with the" members of the other set to forma tube of considerable length.

In carrying the process into practice, it is preferred to employ a plurality of co-acting tube sets, fed from a common hopper, and also a plurality of plungers which are operated simultaneously to obtain economy an increased output.-

One of the many possible embodiments of a machine with which the present process is.

put in practice, is' illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 as Y is a side elevation of the improved machine; Fig. 2 is a top plan' view thereof, partly in section; Fig. 3 is a side is a Fig. 5 is'a front elevation of two compled mentary semi-tubular tube sections; Fig.

, is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4; treated. The plungers 38 are connected, for Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken through instance, by a transverse bar 41, with which the hopper and the feeding means; and is engagedthe slotted end 42 of a lever 43, Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken the latter being fulcrumed-at 44 to the base 6 through the said hopper and feeding means. 10. This lever is connected by a link 45 Referring now to the drawings, the nuwith a crank-disk 46, that is keyed to the moral 10 indicates the'base or main frame shaft 22. In this maliner, longitudinal moveof the machine, on'which is mounted a hopment i's imparted to the plungers. The cam,

per 11 into which the properly treated com- 28 and the crank-disk 46 are so timed that 1. lninuted cork is placed. This hopper is protheslide 16 is kept stationary, say for invided with a plurality of, inthe present case stance in the position shown in Fig. 'Tof the two, tubular outlets 12, which extend, prefdrawings, while the inner ends of the plungerably, horizontally. In alignment with ers are in engagement'nvith the said slide these outlets, the front wall 13 and the rear both on the feeding stroke of the said plungwall 14 of the hopper are connected bysem'iers and on the idle stroke thereof. As soon tubular members 15, the latter being either as the inner ends of the plungers are 'disfixed to the hopper or made'integral thereengagedfrorn the slide on their idle stroke, with. Below these semi-tubular members the slide is moved tq bring those cylindrical there is reciprocably mounted .upon the botrecesses there of into alignment with the tutom of the hopper a slide 16, having four bular member 16, which have been filled with semi-cylindrical recesses 17, so positioned comminuted cork on the previous feeding that, when two' of'the same are in re sterstroke of thetplunger. ing positions with the semi-tubular m mhers I Each of the, plungers co-operates with a 1 5, the others are ready to receive mg terial mold. Each mold is composed of two sets from the hopper (Fig. 7 -The,slide 16 is of semi-tubular tube sections, denoted by the of a width corresponding to that of the hop numerals 47 and 48. The two molds-are arper bottom and the diametersof the recesses ranged side by side, they being spaced apart 17 correspond-to the inner diameters ofthe a distance obviously corresponding to that 1 semi-{tubular members 15. i The slide is 'actubetween the ,plungers, as clearly appears 9 ated from the main'driving shaft 18 of the from Fig. 2 of the drawings. The corremachine, which shaft ,rnay be driven from sponding tube sections 47 of the mold are any suitable source'of pow'er. This shaft is connected by rigid ribs 49, (Figs. 5 and 6), journaled in bearings"19. and has keyed to and the'corresponding tube sections 48 of it a bevel gear 20,'1n mesh with a similar the mold are connected by ribs 50, (Figs. 35 gear 21 on ,a 'shaft' 22', the latter being jour- -5' and 6). v The sections 47 of the molds are vnaled in bearings" 23. To the shaft 22 is attached to two endless chains51, each of fixed a spur gear 24, in mesh with a gear 25 the same running over sprocket wheels 52 on a' shaft 26 The shaft 26 is journaled in and 53, and in a similar manner are the tube bearings 27 and carries a cam 28, with which sections 48 fixed to two endless chains 54, "05

cooperates an anti-friction roller- 29 on a each of the latter rumiing over sprocket lever 30, one end of which is fulcrumed at wheels 55 and 56. The sprocket wheels are '31 to. a bracket 32. To the other end of this keyed to shafts 57, journaled in bearings 58 lever is pivoted at 33 oneend of a link 34, on standards 59. The several endless chains the 0th r endof which is pivoted at 35 to and the tube sections thereon are so dlsthe slid 16. A spring 36," attached to the posed in relation'to each other that the seclever 30 and to a bracket 37, serves to hold. tions 47 meet the sections 48 at the hopper the anti-friction roller 29 continuously in outlet 12 and are held in abutting tube-formcontact withthe cam 28. The cam is so ing relation in alignment with the outlet 12 constructed that the slide 16 is intermittently for a considerable distance, thereby formmoved, it beingkept stationary for a period ing molds into which the comminuted matehereinafter to be specified when two of its rial is packed, The length of-each mold is recesses 17 are in alignment with the semitubular members-15. .The feeding and compressing mechanism consists of two phingers 38, which. are. the material is not only properly packed inadapted to reciprocatev in guides 39 and 40; to the mold but also subjected to the temper- The guides 40 areformed on the rear wall 14 'ature that is suflicient to afi'ect the binding two sprocket wheels over which each endless 65 chain runs, and this length is so selected that I predetermined by the distance between the of the hopper, in the said rear wall being agent, as will hereinafter appear. The tube formed openings 40', through which the saidplun'gers are adapted to moveinto the hopper, feeding the comminuted cork in the semitubular members 15 and recesses 17 in alignment therewith into the tubular outlets l2 ofthe hopper, and thence into the tubes or wheel shafts 5 To the same shaft is fixed chambers in which the comminuted 'cork is agear 62, in mesh with a gear 63 on a shaft sections are driven in any suitable manner, for-instance, from the driving shaft 18. For this purpose there may be provided upon the last-mentioned shaft a worm 60, in --mesh with a worm g7 ar 61 on one of the sprocket that the endless chains are driven at a, combrought below the paratively slow s eed.

In order to 1101 the tube sections in abutting tube-forming posit-ions, guide rails 64 and 65 are provided, which rails bear against the ribs 49'and50, respectively, the guide rails 65 being disposed below the acting portions of the chains 54 andthe guide rails 6-1 above the acting portions of the chains 51 (Flig. 1). I I

eat is applied to'the. molds by vany suit able heating means,

for instance by gas burners 66 and 67, the

former being disposed above and the burner 67 below the tube sec-.

tions when the same are heldin abutting positions (Fig. 1). I

The operation of this machine is as follows: The comminuted cork dropping into two of the recesses 17 of the slide 16 is semi-tubular members. 15 when the lungers are disenga ed fromthe latter. e plungers, on their feeding stroke, advance the outlets 12 into the molds into contact with the previously fed cork, or, if no cork be in the molds, the desired condition of pressure, etc, may be brought about by pluggingthe said molds until the mold is filled, when the plugs will be driven out cork. The molds are driven at sucha. speed that the cork is properly compressed thereting positions in and, as the-compressed cork is advanced, the binding a ent is'coagulated so that it becomes insolu 1e and binds the particles of The burners 66 and 67 do not extend to the sprocket wheels 53 and 56, so that the cork columns or rods are cooled before they issue from "the; molds, thereby permanently maintaining their form.

The extruded rods or'columns ofi cork are severed into sections of desired length, or

thickness to form bottle sealin'g disks, packing disks, gaskets, etc. If desired, the rods before being severed, or the severed sections thereof may be coated or treated to give in! creased water or gas resistant qualities.

It is obvious that While herein a specific feeding means has been described and a specific manner of actuating the tube sections has been disclosed, any other ma be used without departing from theinventmn', which lies mainly in the provision of two sets of mold sections which are brought into abutthe cork is packed and in which it is, simultaneously with treated to unite the cork particles.

What we claim is I 1--. In an apparatus for extruding cork, the

combination with .two sets of mold sections, of means for continuously bringing said two sets of mold sections into; abutting mold ously mov ng mold is obtained through cork through the tubularby the accumulated to form a mold into which.

the packing ,operation,"

' comprising means form'in relation so as to obtaima continuous mold tirough which the cork is extruded, and a reciprocable plunger for feeding comminuted cork to said niold.

2. In an apparatus-for extruding cork, the combination with two sets of continusections, of means ;.for bringing. said two sets into abutting moldforming relation "so as to obtain a continuous mold through which the cork is extruded, and a reciprocable plunger for. feeding comminuted cork to said mold. I

3. In an apparatus for extruding cork, the'combination with two sets 'of mold sections, of means for continuously bringing said two sets of mold sections into abutting mold-forming relation, holding the same in such abutting positions and thereafter separating the same, whereby a continuous mold which the cork is extraded, and a reclpro'cable plunger ,for feeding comminuted cork to said mold.

4. In an apparatus for extruding cork, the combination with two sets of interconnected mold sections, of means for continuously bringing said two sets of mold sections into abutting mold-forming relation was to obtain a-continuous mold through which the cork isextruded, and a reciprocable plunger for feedingcomminuted cork to said mold.

5. In an apparatus for extruding cork," the combination with two sets of mold sections, each set being interconnected to form an endless chain, means for actuating said endless chains to bring said two sets of mold sections into abutting mold-formin relation so as to obtain a continuous mol through which the cork is extruded, and a reciprocable plunger for feeding'comminuted' cork to said mold. I I a 6. An" apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means for preventing transverse movement of the two sets of mold sections while in mold-forming relation.

I 7. An' apparatus according to claim 1, 9 comprising means for preventing transverse movement of ythe two. sets of mold sections while in mold-forming relation.

8. Anapparatus according to claim 2, comprisingmeans for preventing transverse movement 0- the two sets of mold sections while in mold-forming relation.

9. An apparatus accordin to claim 3, comprising means for preventing transverse movement of e two sets of mold sections while in mold-forming relation.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1,. comprising means for heating said mold sections during a portion of the time in which they are held immold-forming' relation.

7 11. An apparatus according to claim 2,

for heating said mold sections during a portion of e time in which they are held in mold-form1ng relation.

I 12. An apparatus according to claim 3,

comprising means for heating said mold sections during a portion of the time in which they are held in mold-forming relation.

13. An apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means for preventlng transverse movement of the two sets of mold sections while in mold-forming relation and-means for heating said mold sections during a por tion of the time in which they are held in mold-forming relation. J

14. In an apparatus for extruding cork, the combination with two sets of semi-tubularmold' sections, of means folcontinuously bringing said two sets of mold sections into abutting tube-forming relation so as to obtain a continuous tube through which the cork is extruded, and a reciprocable plimger forfeeding comminuted cork through said 4 tube.

and applying pressure thereto,, ,and heating that section of the tube which'is adjacent the entrance thereof.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 17th day of June, A. D., 1924.

MELCHOR, MARSA. WILLIAM JACKSON. 

